Search This Blog

Friday, February 22, 2008

Raven Black

Cleeves, Ann. Raven Black. Set in the Shetland Islands off of Scotland, the novel provides an interesting glimpse at the insularity of the inhabitants. When Catherine Ross is found murdered, the prime suspect is an old man with limited abilities, but Inspector Jimmy Perez wants to keep an open mind.

As he begins interviewing people to find out more about Catherine, Perez is also sorting through some of his own memories of being a student at Catherine's school, the island hierarchy, and the meshing and inter-meshing of island relationships. A lot goes on beneath the placid surface of the isolated locale.

The end may come as a surprise.

The first in a quartet of novels that Cleeves plans to set in the Shetland Islands; I rather liked Jimmy Perez and look forward to the next in the series.